What’s In Your Box?

Several years ago a good friend gave me a copy of the 20th Anniversary Edition of Bob Buford’s book, Half Time®: Moving from Success to Significance. I enjoyed the book so much that it was added to the required reading list for my Business Leaders Forum℠ mastermind program.

Buford believes the second half of your life can be better than the first. But first we need to figure out what we want to do with the rest of our lives. In Half Time®, this transition is described as moving from ‘success to significance’.

While attempting to come up with a strategic plan for himself, Buford was asked a simple question: “What’s in the box?”

The answer to this simple, yet penetrating question will help to determine how successful we are at fulfilling our future life plans. Whether we’re still young adults, have reached the midlife point, or are already into our second half. Let me explain.

At some point in our lives, many of us come to the realization that something is missing. Thus begins a critical period of soul-searching and self-discovery to determine what we want to do with the rest of our lives to fill this void.

“We become what we think about most of the time.” – Earl Nightingale

Everything we do in life helps to determine our future. However, as Half Time® denotes, we can only have one thing in the box that becomes the “mainspring”. (Not sure I’m there yet with only one thing in the box, but that is my issue). This mainspring is where the bulk of our time and effort will be centered. So what is that one thing … your mainspring? Be careful how you answer.

To help you determine your mainspring, set aside time for reflection. Make a list of the things that are truly important to you. Things you want to do in your second half. Things you are committed to, what you truly believe. And most importantly, what you want to do with the rest of your life.

Now let it marinate for a few days. Pray about it, then carefully consider what word or words to write down that will ultimately translate to your new mission in life. Got it? Now get to work on it!

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” – Maria Robinson

Regardless of the stage of life we are in today, we can change our future. We have far more control over what happens to us than we think. It starts with planning. Determining the what, why, how and when. The when is the easy part – start today! Now, if you have come to the realization that something is missing, then the transition has already begun.

The biggest challenge will then become where and how to invest your time, energy and resources. What to put in the box is your choice. If you want the second half to be better than the first, choose wisely.

Enjoy the journey!

John

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